142 



* THE FLOBIST AND P0M0L0G1ST. 



celebrated for fine Peaches, as well as the Cotton States. The small State of Maryland is 

 probably as fine a Peach and other fruit-growing a State as any in the Union. If the young 

 gardener in England who reads this, turns to the East and notes the latitude from which 

 this fruit originally comes, he will not be surprised at its success in the same latitude in its 

 "Western home. Nature has profusely blessed us with this and other fruits ; but where 

 Nature is liberal, mau is apt to be neglectful : hence the inferior fruit often seen in this 

 country. A planter wishes to plant a Peach orchard. He purchases his trees, digs small holes 

 into which the roots, it may be, are crammed. M ost probably the first year or two he sows Wheat 

 or Oats between his trees. The second year the trees come into bearing ; the fruit is never 

 thinned, and as fruit will set on the branches, to use an English phrase, as thick as " traces of 

 Onions," need we wonder if the fruit is small or inferior, and that after three or four years 

 bearing they should sink into premature decay — more especially when they receive no pruning 

 whatever F 



But to return to the orchard of our friend. It is apparent at a glance its treatment has 

 been different. The common practice in this country is to trim this and other fruit trees up 

 as standards— a practice we borrowed from England, without considering the difference 

 between their humid climate and our hot dry one. Dr. J. B. Kirby, like other good culti- 

 vators among us, has low-headed trees, His practice is, on purchasing trees, to take 

 yearlings (maiden trees). These were planted about 18 feet apart each way ; they are then 

 headed down to about 2 feet or 2 J feet; from this point the head of the tree is formed. The 

 branches at first are properly pruned or stopped, as the case may be, to give the head a 

 proper form. Each spring the trees are looked over to regulate, shorten, and thin out the 

 branches. The fruit, as soon as set, has been properly thinned : hence the fine fruit we 

 have been feasting upon. All these operations are easily performed. The trees are low- 

 headed, and nearly all the branches can be reached from the ground. 



I have already spoken of the beauty of these Peaches : every tree was laden — the ground 

 strewed with the finest fruit. I have seen and eaten luscious Peaches in the south and west 

 of England, where this fruit is truly fine ; but never have I seen such large and luscious 

 Peaches as in this orchard. To give an idea of the quantity produced, the proprietor informed 

 me he sent his first waggonload to market on July 23rd, after which he would send three 

 weekly until from 1st to 10th October. Ereestone white-fleshed Peaches are largely grown, 

 among which the following were conspicuous : — Baltimore Beauty, Cammack's White, 

 Cooledge's Favourite, Druid Hill, Hain's Early Bed, Early Tillotson, Early York, George the 

 Fourth, Harker's Seedling, Eed Eareripe, Morris White, President, Walter's Early, Ward's 

 Late, Free, fee. Among the yellow-fleshed varieties the following were fine :— Bergen's 

 Yellow, Crawford's Early and Crawford's Late, Melacoton, Beeves' Late, Smock's, Scott's 

 Nonpareil, Susquehanna, &c. This class of Peaches is but little known in England, as it 

 requires our hot climate to bring them to perfection : they are most delicious. Clings 

 were equally fine, having among others the following; — Bronaugh, Heath, Large White 

 Cling, Lemon Cling, Magnum Bonum, Newington, Old Mixon Clingstone, Bodman's Cling, 

 Tippcanoe, fee. If the yellow-fleshed are but little known in England, these are still less, 

 as they require our burning summers to bring them to maturity. When well ripened they 

 are superior to either of the other classes, being more juicy with a honied lusciousness ,: 

 indeed, I know no Peach more beautiful to the eye or grateful to the palate than a 

 well-ripened " Old Mixon Cling." I was about to put it at the head of all Peaches. What 

 a pity you cannot ripen these in England ! The ground on which this orchard stood, would 

 in general be considered poor, being of a sandy, gravelly nature, and would scarcely bring a 

 good crop of grain. When the trees were planted, it received no particular cultivation 

 other than a good ploughing : nothing was grown among the trees, the ground between 

 which received one or two light ploughings each season, and during summer the weeds were 

 kept down, and the soil loose and mellow by the use of the horse cultivator, all of which is 

 very necessary in this climate. When other crops arc grown among trees they never succeed. 



Peach trees in this climate shordd not be planted in too rich or strong a soil. In such 

 as I have described they succeed best, and with the little attention I have remarked will 

 give the finest of Peaches. This fruit tree is short-lived here, to prolong which it has been 

 recommended to bud it on the Plum. My experience will not, however, permit me to endorse 

 this, as the soil on which the Peach succeeds best is too hot and roasting for the roots of 

 the Plum, which delight in a heavier soil and cooler bottom. There is no stock like its own 

 raised from hardy seedlings — none so conducive to its health and vigour. I can see no 

 objection to its short life, when it is considered how cheaply trees can be purchased at 

 present — about sixty dollars per thousand (£12), and the rapidity with which they come into 

 bearing. Young, vigorous trees give the finest fruit, much better than to crop them for five 

 or six years, and. when they show symptoms of decay destroy them, having another orchard 

 ready to succeed them. A diseaso called the yellows has been very fatal to this tree in many 

 portions of the country — such as New Jersey and other parts of the north, Unfavourable 

 soil, climate, and bad culture appear to be the cause. In this region, the district of 



